Will Birds Prefer a More Expensive Bird Seed or a Cheaper Bird Seed?
Introduction
When I was at the store I noticed there were many different kinds of bird seed. For the same amount of seed some bags were more that two times as expensive. I wanted to know why.
Research
I did some research about what kinds of foods the birds prefer, I compared what I had found to the ingredients in my bags of bird seed. I read that birds really like black oil sunflower seeds, striped sunflower seeds, peanuts, and sometimes dried fruit. All of these ingredients were in the more expensive bird seed. The cheaper bird seed however, only had one of these ingredients, striped sunflower seeds. Also, the the first two ingredients in the cheaper one were millet and grain products, which are just fillers that most birds don't really like. I looked into the types of feeder birds in this area and the most common ones were Cardinals, Tufted Titmice, Finches, Carolina Wrens, Chickadees, and Woodpeckers. I found that these birds like the ingredients in the expensive mix.
Hypothesis
I think more birds will prefer the more expensive bird seed because it is made of higher quality ingredients that the birds prefer.
Materials
Two bird feeders
Two kinds of bird seed, one cheap the other expensive
A measuring cup
My Feeders
Expensive Mix
Cheap Mix
Methods
First I went and bought two kinds of bird seed, one cost $0.70 per pound, the other was $2.14 a pound. On September 20th I measured 3 cups of the two birds seeds into separate feeders and hung them. I placed them in the same area, so the location wouldn't impact my results. After four weeks I will took the feeders down and measured how much was eaten. My independent variable was the different kinds of seeds, the dependent was the amount and seed that gets eaten, and to control I used identical bird feeders and had them up at the same time so weather wouldn't effect it.
Results and Data
Expensive Seed
2 Cups Eaten
Cheap Seed
¾ Cups Eaten
Observations
Over the course of my investigation I watched many of the birds that came to the feeders. I noticed that most of the birds that came to my feeders would quickly grab something, fly away, then come back to get more. I think this is because they are more vulnerable out in the open. Also, for a little over two weeks of my four week investigation, it rained. I noticed that not as many birds came to the feeders when it was raining.
Discussion
My hypothesis was supported by the results of my investigation. I predicted that the birds would eat more of the expensive mix then the cheaper one, and in this case they did. I think that more seeds would have been eaten if it hadn't rained. Because it rained, less birds came and some of the seed got a little wet. I couldn't ever tell what kinds of birds were coming to the feeders because they would only stay at the feeder briefly. I think that it is worth it to pay more money because at least the birds eat it, unlike the cheap one that the birds barley touch.
Will Birds Prefer a More Expensive Bird Seed or a Cheaper Bird Seed?
Introduction
When I was at the store I noticed there were many different kinds of bird seed. For the same amount of seed some bags were more that two times as expensive. I wanted to know why.
Research
I did some research about what kinds of foods the birds prefer, I compared what I had found to the ingredients in my bags of bird seed. I read that birds really like black oil sunflower seeds, striped sunflower seeds, peanuts, and sometimes dried fruit. All of these ingredients were in the more expensive bird seed. The cheaper bird seed however, only had one of these ingredients, striped sunflower seeds. Also, the the first two ingredients in the cheaper one were millet and grain products, which are just fillers that most birds don't really like. I looked into the types of feeder birds in this area and the most common ones were Cardinals, Tufted Titmice, Finches, Carolina Wrens, Chickadees, and Woodpeckers. I found that these birds like the ingredients in the expensive mix.
Hypothesis
I think more birds will prefer the more expensive bird seed because it is made of higher quality ingredients that the birds prefer.
Materials
Methods
First I went and bought two kinds of bird seed, one cost $0.70 per pound, the other was $2.14 a pound. On September 20th I measured 3 cups of the two birds seeds into separate feeders and hung them. I placed them in the same area, so the location wouldn't impact my results. After four weeks I will took the feeders down and measured how much was eaten. My independent variable was the different kinds of seeds, the dependent was the amount and seed that gets eaten, and to control I used identical bird feeders and had them up at the same time so weather wouldn't effect it.
Results and Data
Observations
Over the course of my investigation I watched many of the birds that came to the feeders. I noticed that most of the birds that came to my feeders would quickly grab something, fly away, then come back to get more. I think this is because they are more vulnerable out in the open. Also, for a little over two weeks of my four week investigation, it rained. I noticed that not as many birds came to the feeders when it was raining.
Discussion
My hypothesis was supported by the results of my investigation. I predicted that the birds would eat more of the expensive mix then the cheaper one, and in this case they did. I think that more seeds would have been eaten if it hadn't rained. Because it rained, less birds came and some of the seed got a little wet. I couldn't ever tell what kinds of birds were coming to the feeders because they would only stay at the feeder briefly. I think that it is worth it to pay more money because at least the birds eat it, unlike the cheap one that the birds barley touch.
Bibliography
About Suet, Mealworms, and Other Bird Foods." All About Birds . N.p., 20 Apr. 2009. Web. 15 Sept. 2015. < http://www.allaboutbirds.org/suet-mealworms-and-other-bird-foods/ >.
"Feeding Birds: A Quick Guide to Seed Types." All About Birds . N.p., 20 Apr. 2009. Web. 15 Sept. 2015. < http://www.allaboutbirds.org/types-of-bird-seed-a-quick-guide/ >.
"Heidi & Steve Muma." Wild Birds Unlimited . N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Sept. 2015.
"Introducing." Cardinals . N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Sept. 2015. < http://www.wbu.com/education/cardinals.html >.
"Introducing." Chickadees . N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Sept. 2015. < http://www.wbu.com/education/chickadees.html >.
"Introducing." Titmice . N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Sept. 2015. < http://www.wbu.com/education/titmice.html >.
"Introducing." Wrens . N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Sept. 2015. < http://www.wbu.com/education/wrens.html >.